Walking Away, Part 4

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On Monday, Tim got to the garage late. Billy and Bruno were there, but there was no sign of Al.

“Where's Al?” Tim couldn't help but feel a stab of panic.

“At Buddy's.” Billy came out from underneath the truck he was fixing and walked back to the parts storeroom. Tim trailed behind him.

“So, you told her to go ahead with her brilliant idea?”

Billy rolled his eyes. “Like there'd be any stopping her.”

“You really think Buddy's going to go for it?”

Billy reached up to grab the part he needed from a high shelf. He looked at Tim seriously, like he was pondering an important question. Then he said “No.” and started laughing.

Tim grinned. The idea of Buddy doing business with the Riggins brothers was laughable.

They heard footsteps running into the garage and Al arrived out of breath and looking very much out of place in a dark blue business suit. Her skirt stopped just above her knees and Tim's eyes were automatically drawn to her legs.

“Hey, Buddy's coming over here to check the place out, then, if he likes what he sees, he's going to sign the contract. Billy, did you get a chance to read the contract? I left it on your desk.”

Billy looked at her like she'd asked him if he'd gotten a chance to zip up to the moon to pick up some cheese.

“Get back in your office and read it. Tim, tuck your shirt in and go look busy.”

“Yes, boss.” Tim resisted the urge to slap her playfully. That was the only thing that had changed between them. He tried not to touch her because it was just too difficult to stop.

Al nodded to them both and then walked back to the front desk to wait for Buddy, who arrived a few minutes later.

“Al, I don't think I've ever seen a lady drive so fast. I was right behind you coming out of the lot and then...poof, you were gone.” Buddy was his usual sweaty, cheerful self. Bruno stood up and had a lazy stretch before heading over to check out their guest.

Buddy took a step back and eyed the dog suspiciously.

“It's okay, Buddy, this is Bruno.” She whistled the dog away from Buddy, who was clearly uncomfortable with dogs. “Come on, I'll give you a tour.”

She started with the computer, explaining how they booked appointments and the software they used to estimate times and schedule repairs.

“That's some high tech stuff there. Where'd you get it?”

Al smiled. “I came up with the idea and the parameters and then got one of my brothers to make it for us.”

“That's good. I wish we had something like that. I'm always at the mercy of my mechanics telling me how long they think something's going to take.”

“Well, I might be amenable to discussing licensing it to you someday. Not quite today though.”

Tim was loitering near the front desk, watching the way the Buddy kept leaning forward, finding any excuse to touch her. Tim wasn't jealous, exactly, since he could also see Al trying to keep her distance while still being polite.

“Hey, since I'm here, think we can reschedule the maintenance on Lyla's car?”

“Sure, Buddy, but I'm telling you, they really do have mechanics in Nashville.”

Buddy laughed. “Yeah, but I know y'all will take good car of my baby's car. I don't know anybody in Nashville and I don't trust 'em.”

“All right, then. When's good for you?”

“She'll be coming home for Christmas break, so, say the Monday before Christmas?”

Al clicked the mouse a few times and typed for a bit. The she got some contact details from Buddy and entered them into the computer as well.

“Fine, you're all set. Bring the car in that morning. Probably be able to get it done while she waits, but we'll let you know on the day.”

“I just hope she comes home.” Buddy let out a huge, wistful sigh and looked down. “She was supposed to come home for Thanksgiving, you know, but that boyfriend of hers invited her to Spain for a week.”

“Wow, Buddy, that must be tough for you,” said Al, but her eyes were on Tim.

Buddy looked up and followed Al's gaze. “Tim Riggins, I heard you were back in Dillon. Sorry to hear that San Antonio State thing didn't work out for you, but not everyone's cut out for college.”

“Buddy, we are so just fortunate that Tim was able to come back and help us out here. Our business has been growing like crazy and you know yourself how hard it is to find good mechanics.” Al smiled sweetly.

Buddy backpedaled, but he wasn't done twisting the knife as he went on to talk about how things always do work out for the best and to tie that back to Lyla, Vanderbilt, and Rafe.

“Buddy, how about I give you the rest of the tour?” Al asked when she saw a break in Buddy's monologue.

“Oh, sure, of course.”

Al turned and motioned for Buddy to follow. Then she stopped and turned to Tim. “Timmy, I was in such a rush this morning, I forgot my regular work clothes. I left them in the kitchen, I think. Can you get them for me, please?”

Tim grinned at her. “Sure thing, baby.”

“Thanks, sweets, you're the best.” Al closed the space between them in three long steps, put her hands on his chest, and stood on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss on the lips. She kissed his cheek and then whispered in his ear, her warm breath giving him chills. “I didn't forget. But just get out of here, take Bruno for a drive. You don't need to put up with this.”

She stepped back and turned to Buddy, who was looking between them with a puzzlement that slowly slid into understanding. Al walked on, explaining how things worked in the garage.

Tim stayed away for an hour, figuring that was more than enough time for Buddy to get his grand tour, sign the damn contract and get the hell out of there. He was impressed by how Al handled the situation. In one way, he knew it didn't change anything between them, that she was putting on a little show for Buddy's benefit. But in another way, it just confirmed everything he already knew: his patience would pay off in the end.

 

*** **** **** *** **** **** *** **** **** *** **** **** ***

The next few weeks flew by. Buddy signed the contract and Al arranged for radio ads to play on several West Texas stations, advertising the new loaner car benefit. Tim laughed every time he heard Billy's voice coming out of his truck's speakers. The idea was as good as Al had promised and they were soon swamped with work. They were working extra long days, with Tim and Al even coming in on weekends to catch up.

Tim didn't mind though. It felt good be part of something so successful. It also felt good to have the distraction of work. To be around Al and be able to focus on something other than how much he liked her. And how much he worried about her sometimes.

The Friday before Thanksgiving, they managed to finish at six for the night. Al went home and Tim and Billy went to the Panthers' play-off game, a home semi-final against Westerby. Tim didn't know if it was a law or just coincidence, but it always seemed to pour during semi-final games.

It looked like the rain would hold off this time, but the heavens opened up during the fourth quarter. The score was tied and Westerby had the ball, threatening on the Panthers' 25 yard line. Then the cold wind kicked in and chilled him to the bone. His focus on the game slipped as he thought of Al, no doubt drinking on the back deck at home.

“Billy, I gotta go,” he shouted in his brother's ear to be heard over the noisy crowd and howling wind.

Billy grabbed his arm. “You can't go. The game's just gettin' interesting.”

“I have to.” He looked at his brother, his eyes serious enough to cut off further discussion.

“OK, then. Go. Be careful though.”

Tim nodded and took off, pushing through their row and then hustling down the steps. He ran out to his truck and had it started and moving before he even had his seat belt on. He took a deep breath to steady himself, put on his seat belt and set off through the deserted streets.

When he got to their house, he burst through the front door, calling for Al. He could hear Bruno barking and saw the sliding glass door was open. He found Al outside, the barking dog pacing circles around her.

“Al, c'mon. Get in the house.”

She either didn't hear him or ignored him.

He raised his voice. “Al, don't be an idiot. Even the damn dog knows you should be inside in this weather.”

A flash of lightening lit up the yard and Tim could see her face, pale and grimly determined. He sighed, wondering if having to deal with her self-destructive tendencies was some sort of penance or karmic payback for what he'd put Billy through the year of Six's accident.

He pulled off the wet blanket, relieved to see she was at least wearing her work clothes and a jacket instead of her usual shorts and t-shirt. He scooped her up, threw her over his shoulder and carried her into the house. She didn't fight him or even say anything, which somehow scared him even more.

He put her down gently in a kitchen chair and pulled off her shoes and jacket. He took off his own jacket and sighed.

“Al, I need you to co-operate with me.”

She didn't say anything and wouldn't look at him.

“Please.” Everything he'd ever felt about her was wrapped up in that single word.

Her head snapped up and she met his eyes. She looked sad and pathetic, her curls plastered to her face.

“I need you to come upstairs with me. We need to get you changed, okay?”

She nodded and he took her hand. Its coldness shocked him. He put an arm around her and could feel that dry clothes weren't going to be enough to warm her.

They went upstairs and he led her to her room. It was the first time he'd ever seen the inside of it but he was sure his bathroom would not be up to her exacting standards.

Her room was smaller than his, with the weird angles of the roof making the space feel even more cramped. A twin bed, long dresser and a rocking chair were the only furniture.

Her bathroom, though, was much bigger and nicer than his. He could tell that it was a recent addition, that probably she was the one who had had it put in. A large jacuzzi tub took up one end of the room, the floor built up next to it. The wide stairs up to the floor area reminded Tim of the steps into the shallow end of a pool.

A marble shower with glass doors took up the other end of the room. The toilet was next to a sink that looked like a giant marble bowl. The only mirror in the place was over the sink, a small oval placed high on the wall.

Tim didn't know where the door next to the shower went, so he opened it to reveal a heated linen closet. Its shelves were stacked with fluffy towels and bed sheets. Tim grabbed a few towels and dropped them on the counter next to the sink.

He ran the water in the tub and dumped in some of the bubble bath that was sitting there. He adjusted the water carefully, not wanting it to be too hot. When the bubbles were close to the top of the tub, he shut off the water.

Al came in, Bruno trailing behind her. The dog was pacing and nervous, so Tim told him to lie down.

“I'm going to leave you now, but you need to get out of those clothes and have a bath.”

“Don't.”

“What?”

“Don't leave.” She looked up at him with puffy, red eyes and his heart broke like a pane of glass.

“All right, look, I'll find some clothes for you to wear after your bath. You let me know when it's safe to come in.”

“Safe?”

“Work with me here. I'm just a guy, you know.”

She gave him a small smile and nodded. He left, half-closing the door behind him.

He went over to the dresser and guessed that he should skip the first drawer. As organized as Al was, Tim would bet his next paycheck that her first drawer was the underwear drawer and he just didn't think he could deal with that right now. It seemed right that pajamas would be in the bottom drawer.

He pulled open the bottom drawer and smiled to see the tank tops and shorts, flannel pants and sweatshirts that she used as pajamas. He picked a pair of flannel pants that felt super soft, a blue tank top, and a well-worn black sweatshirt for the Eveleth Golden Bears football team.

“It's safe,” called Al.

Tim carried the clothes in with him and dropped them next to the towels. He walked up the stairs and sat down on the top step, turning to lean his back against the wall. He stretched out one leg and kept the other bent so he could rest his arm against it. Al looked tiny in the huge tub, just her head sticking out from a sea of bubbles. He sighed.

“Some day, you're going to tell me what this is all about.”

She nodded sadly. “Some day. But not today.”

“No, not today,” he agreed.

The quiet minutes stretched between them. Tim looked down at his ring, twisting it around on his finger while he twisted thoughts about Al around in his head. He understood wanting to passively destroy yourself. He knew where these bad decisions came from. He got her, he really did. He just didn't know how to explain that to her.

So, once again, it all came back to waiting. Which he knew he could do. As long as it took.

“Timmy?” Her voice was so quiet, he nearly missed it.

“Yeah.” He looked up.

She gave him a half-smile. “Thank you.”

“No worries.” He smiled back. “No worries at all.”

 

*** **** **** *** **** **** *** **** **** *** **** **** ***

The Monday before Thanksgiving, Billy was in his office with Tim, going over the parts they needed to order for the week. Al stuck her head in the door.

“Billy, call for you, line two.”

“Thanks, Al. You nearly done with that clutch?”

“Almost. And you know what will help me?”

“What?”

“If you stop asking me about the damn thing.” She stuck her tongue out at Billy, winked at Tim, and then walked out.

“That girl. I can't decide if she's the best or worst thing ever to happen to this place.” Billy shook his head.

“The best.” Tim smiled. “Definitely the best.”

Billy picked up the phone and jabbed the button for line two.

“Billy Riggins.” He tried to use his best phone voice, but it wasn't anywhere near as good as Al's.

“Oh shit. Excuse my language, but Celia, are you kidding me?”

Tim raised an eyebrow, but Billy waved him off.

“No....yeah....I understand, but we're leaving Wednesday. No, of course. Yeah. Well, thanks for telling me.”

Billy dropped the phone down into the cradle and rubbed his hand over his face.

“What's wrong?” asked Tim.

“What's wrong is that was our babysitter. Her kid just got the chicken pox, so she can't watch Amber and TJ. Which means I gotta either find somebody else or call my wife and tell her 'Sorry, honey, know how you were lookin' forward to your first uninterrupted night's sleep in over a year, well it ain't going to happen.'”

“Shit, Billy. That sucks.”

Billy leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Tim figured he was flipping through his mental list of people he knew that he'd trust with his kids. It was apparently a very short list. Billy's eyes snapped open and zeroed in on his brother.

“What?” Tim asked.

“Uncle Timmy,” said Billy.

“Oh no, Billy. No way. That's an awful idea.”

“Tim, it'll be fine. Just find some girl to help you out. I'm sure you'll have no trouble with that. Dillon's gotta be full of girls who would love to help you babysit in an empty house for four days.”

“No way, Billy.”

“Please, Tim. I am desperate. I am so desperate. I can't even tell you. I love those kids, you know I do, but Mindy and I really need this. You have no idea.”

Tim sighed and nodded slowly. “OK, Billy. But I want a few days off afterwards to recover.”

“Deal.”

Tim stood up and walked out into the garage. He found Al closing the hood of the Mazda Miata.

“Clutch done?”

“Yep.” She tossed him the keys. “Want to take it for the test drive?”

“Sure. Come with me?”

“We really shouldn't both be gone. There's so much to do around here.”

“Come on, ten minutes won't make a difference.”

“But Billy-”

“Billy, me and Al are going to test out the clutch in the Miata,” shouted Tim.

“Fine!” hollered back Billy. Tim gave Al a huge “told you so” grin as he opened the passenger's side door for her.

Tim backed carefully out of the garage and then headed out to a deserted road on the edge of town. He sped up and slowed down, moving smoothly through the gears and listening to the engine. The clutch felt good and the engine was humming along nicely. When he turned the car around, he smiled at Al.

“You do good work.”

She smiled back. When they returned to the garage, he parked the car outside and handed her the keys.

“Hey Al, can ask you for a favor?”

“Of course you can.”

“You know how Billy and Mindy are going away this week?”

She nodded.

“Well, their babysitter's kid has the chicken pox and I agreed to help Billy out, but I really need a wingman on this one. TJ's wobbly neck scares the shit out of me. Please, I need your help.”

Al's eyes went wide and a strange expression settled on her face.

“You know I'll help you, but you have to make sure it's fine with both Billy and Mindy.”

Tim waved his hand dismissively. “Sure, they'll be fine with it.”

“No, Tim. You have to ask them. Specifically.” Her voice was clear and clipped.

Tim's brow wrinkled in confusion. “I don't understand what the big deal is. Billy said to find a girl to help me. You're a girl. You're related to Mindy and work with Billy, so it's not like you're some stranger off the street.”

“Tim, just ask him.”

Tim put his hands up. “OK. OK. C'mon, I'll ask him. You can watch so you know I did it.”

Tim walked into Billy's office and waited for Al to catch up with him.

“Hey Billy, is it okay if Al helps me with the babysitting?”

A look of surprise crossed Billy's face and he tried to smother it and look reassuring. “Yeah, sure. Of course.”

Al cleared her throat and looked at Tim.

“What about Mindy? Will you please ask her if it's okay?” asked Tim, still not sure what the big deal was.

“C'mere, Al, have a seat. Help me make one of those speaker phone calls and we can ask her together.”

Al walked over with the bearing of one headed for the firing squad.

“Timmy, I need you to get started on Emmet's truck, please?”

“Yeah, of course. Let me know what Mindy says.”

He walked out and then paused, straining to hear Billy and Al's hushed conversation.

“I think this will be really good for you Al, and I'm sure Mins'll be fine with it, but we'll call her anyway, just to make you comfortable.”

Tim shook his head and went into the garage. He decided he didn't care what the deal was, as long as he had Al to help him with his niece and nephew.

 

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Epilogue